Housing Law News Housing Benefit reductions from today: in four London Boroughs (Bromley, Croydon, Enfield and Haringey) the overall benefit cap will apply from today (15 April 2013) and will be achieved by reducing housing benefit where that is necessary to keep household income within the cap of £500pw (couples and single parents) or £350 […]
Immigration News The Ministry of Justice has announced a new consultation regarding further reform to legal aid provision. The proposals include a residence test for civil legal aid claimants; reforms to reduce the use of legal aid to fund ‘weak’ judicial reviews; significant reductions in fee rates for judicial review; amendments to the civil merits […]
Tom Stoate represented the family of Ben Grimes, a vulnerable 18 year-old who was found hanging in his cell on the reception wing at HMPYOI Portland, Dorset, on the morning of 22 November 2009, having spent only four nights in the prison.
Administrative Court considers whether interim relief should be provided to a Zambrano carer denied any access to mainstream social security benefits pending the outcome of her benefit appeal
News Syrian refugees were returned to their country of origin from a Turkish refugee camp, due to security concerns according to the Turkish authorities. A report on detention conditions in Poland found that detention centres are modelled on prison facilities which the NGOs have warned enhances a feeling of oppression among the migrants. Personal inspections, […]
Housing Law News Housing Benefit social sector size criteria: the criteria have been applied to council and housing association tenants since 1 April 2013. The National Housing Federation has published The Bedroom Tax: Some Home Truths suggesting that the criteria could have "serious, unintended consequences" for tenants affected. For a copy, click here. Shelter has […]
Employment News Labour considers move to boost workers’ rightsLabour is considering introducing a new fair work commission which will seek to bring together existing enforcement bodies aimed at securing workplace rights, and acting as a champion for vulnerable employees. Click here to read the article. EHRC publishes guidance to businessesThe Equality and Human Rights Commission […]
News The UKBA is to be scrapped as an agency and instead two separate entities under the Home Office will deal with (1) immigration and visa services and (2) immigration law enforcement. To read further click here. A new Life in the UK test handbook was published on 25 March from which date all tests […]
Southern Cross Media, parent company of 2Day FM will be represented by Maya Sikand at the inquest into the death of Nurse Jacintha Saldhana in May this year. The company has been granted properly interested person status.
Shiraz Aziz and Smita Shah have both returned from participating as experts in a highly successful conference over the weekend of 23-24 March in Algiers at the invitation of the Algerian Bar Association and the Law Society of England and Wales.
160 lawyers signed a letter to the Guardian pointing out that the criminal trespass offence (s 144) was introduced on the basis of misinformation. The offence which deals with squatting in a residential building was introduced into the Legal Aid, Sentenci
Judy Khan QC secured the acquittal of a young TV star charged with sexually assaulting another teenager.
SPECIAL NOTICE: This special, extended issue of the Housing Law Bulletin will be the last to be issued ahead of the massive changes to Legal Aid, to Civil Procedure and to Housing Benefits which all take effect on 1 April 2013. It has been held back to offer maximum coverage of developments prior to these […]
Legislative Changes Immigration and Nationality (Cost Recovery Fees) Regulations 2013 SI 2013 No. 617, due to come into force on 6 April 2013, changes, for the forthcoming financial year, the fees to be paid for immigration and nationality applications. Immigration Law Cases Negassi & Anor, R (on the application of) v Secretary of State for […]
A jury sitting at Doncaster Coroners Court has found that defective care and system failure in prison healthcare at HMP Moorlands contributed to the death of Mr Robert Proctor in December 2008.
Mark Symes is part of the legal team acting for the Appellants in EM (Eritrea) & Ors v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2012] EWCA Civ 1336, challenging the lawfulness of removing asylum seekers to inadequate reception conditions in another
Employment News New timetable for employment law changesA new document from the government, Employment Law 2013: Progress on Reform, sets out, amongst other things, a revised timetable for its proposed changes to employment law. The following measures are still due to be introduced in April 2013: changes to collective redundancy, and cost-of-living increases to statutory […]
Immigration Rules HC 1039 was laid before Parliament on 14 March. It comes into force on 6 April 2013. These lengthy rule changes affect the PBS in various ways; and inter alia ‘clarify the current General Visitor rules to guard against abuse by those whose repeat visits amount to de facto residence’; make minor changes […]
In 2010 Alfie Meadows and Zac King were both struck on the head by police batons whilst peacefully protesting against the rise in tuition fees. Alfie was nearly killed by the blow. Both then found themselves charged with Violent Disorder.
Housing Law News Challenge to HB size criteria in social housing: several claimants have launched a judicial review challenge to the introduction of the new criteria from 1 April 2013. Mitting J has directed a response from the DWP within 14 days and a hearing in May 2013 seems likely. For further details, click here. […]
